Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-17
BETTER THAN LAST YEAR.
Congress Spends Four Million Dol.
lars Less.

WASHINGTON, March, 5.-The ap-.
propriations last year footed up S264,-
0OOOOO. This wear they will not go be-
yond $3.50, 900 600, but this is owing
principally to the failure of the RpprO-
priations bills and defeat of one or two
measures calling for very large amounts
of money. The River and HarbOr bill
of Sl0,0O0,O00 received pocket veto.
The President tried to examine the bill
Thursday evening, but gave it up after
three hours work. He withheld his
signature because it did not reach him
i'm time. The Deficiency bill also fell.
This appropriated over $l5, 100000, and
the President was much Interested in
the passage of this measure. In it
were the appropriations for carrying
on the Government suits against the
Bell Telephone Company, and for the
payment of $4,000 advanced by the
Department of Justice to the special
counsel employed last year. This
measure also contained S2,000,0 900 for
the Central Pacific Railroad Company
upon q claim for transportation. This
part of the bill was cut out before the
Conference Committee reached an
agreement. The House conferees pre-
emtoraIly refused to give this S2,0O0,-
600 to this railroad as long as it was so
deeply indebted to the Government.
This Deficiency bill also ocomprehended
a number of important claims, such as
money for the increase of the water
supply of Washington, extra clerk hire
in the various branches of the Govern
ment, and this measure will not neces-
state an extra session. The loss of this
bill will work great personal hardships.
The Deficiency bill would have be-
come law if it could have been en-
crossed in time. A dispatch from
Speaker Carlisle about the condition of
this bill brought the President to the
Capitol at 1l:50. He was accompanied
by his Cabinet. He signed the Dis
trict bill while the ink was still wet on
it; but the Deficiency bill could not be
reached, and the President would not
permit the hands of the clock to be set
/ back so as to bring it within the tech
nical limit. The Fortification bill
failed because the House and Senate
could not agree upon the amount OF
money which should be expended up
on fortiications. Last year the House
appropriated $6OO,00t The Senate
added 100000 and the bill failed
This year the Senate made bill aggre-
eating $41 100000. The House agreed
to $1,000, 900, a magnificent sum fol
the beginning of any system of coast
defenses, but the Senate insisted upon
its Sal ,000, 900, apparently for no other
purpose than that of throwing the re.
sponsibility on the House.
The only item of coast defenses is in
the Naval bill, which provides for all
increase of over $40, 100000 beyond the
bill of last year. The extra money in
the Naval bill is for the building ot
steel cruisers. The appropriation bills
are not yet printed with the changes
made in them in the last two or three
days, but an estimate of them has beer
obtained from the Clerk of the House
Appropriations Committee. The Leg.
islative bill appropriates 500, 100000
Naval bill, $27, 900, 900; Army bill, $24,.
600, 900; Diplomatic and Consular, ST..
$1,000; Agricultural bill, S1,090,000
Pension BILL S76, ,550,000; Mexican pen.
sion bill, Sc, 800, 900; Miscellaneous, S..
100000; Military Academy, $4,000
District of Columbia, S4 100000; Pos
Office bill, S57,000,00O. The steam
ship mail subsidy was knocked out O.
this last bill, the Senate receding at the
last moment. Through the failure O.
the Dependent Pension, River and
Harbor, Fortifications and Deficiency
bills, this Congress goes out with a very
good showing, so far as the footings o.
the appropriations are concerned.